When Dakshin put up this fantastic photographic capture from the Madurai temple and titled it as Boothagi, the first question that came to my mind was ` Wasn’t she a demoness who was hired as an assassin by Kamsa to kill Krishna?’

Our conceptions or misconceptions of Boothanai were driven not only by graphic depictions of her in our story books, but also in sculpture. This early chola depiction in Pullamangai in stone and this sudhai from from the Tanjore Big Temple ( Photo courtesy: Arvind) added to our visions of an Ugly demoness who was sucked dry by Krishna.

So who else could the beautiful maiden sculpted in Madurai be. Some references identify her as Chandramathi the wife of the legendary Harishchandra cradling her dead son Lohidasan. But then something didnt quite feel right. The great King Harishchandra being reduced to penury, had sold his wife into slavery. The sculpted figure even after discounting the ornamental excesses of the Nayak style, does sport an impressive amount of ornaments. But her face seem to show a variety of emotions, at once a bit sad, a bit like that of a demoness - but definitely not that of a loving mother. Plus the Baby seems very well endowed, very much alive and in one angle seems to be puckering his lips to suckle at her breasts. So it cannot be Yashodha and Krishna for sure.

If only we could spot something about the two that could help us with the identification ! After some frantic requests to friends, Mr Raman obliged by making the trip and getting us the required photographs.

This is going to be a really tough one - the request to him from me was very simple. Get me a good shot of the right chest of the baby. Why ?

Remember this post about the mole that adorns the chest of Vishnu - Srivatsam . Keep the last image of that post in your memory.

The Ornamentation of the baby is rich as well , compare with those of known krishna sculptures. Problem is Sambandar also seems to share the same fashion / wardrobe.

Lets study the baby more to find more clues and why I wanted a closeup of the right chest. Please do keep in mind the position of the baby and how difficult it would have been for the sculptor to be able to sculpt any detail on the baby’s right chest.

You can see that he has not made the clear demarcation of the chest on the right side compared to what he could show in the left - where he has shown the shape of the chest clearly. I have marked in white where the right chest should have been shown.

Now lets, demarcate where the jewelery is sculpted on the chest.

Now, if you have followed closely you would see a small indentation on the right chest.

and if you can sit a bit back and focus on the same place, you can see the triangle emerge.

Compared to the standing icons of Vishnu where the Srivatsam mark is more pronounced and more towards the outer half of the chest, due to the position of the baby closer to the lady - the sculptor is forced to center it more. Compare with this

If we can fix that this is indeed the Srivatsam mark - then the question of Boothanai’s description arises. Boothanai is said to be kind of a contract killer - paid assassin, who would kill by having young children suckle at her breast ( two accounts - either her milk itself was venom or she applied a deadly poison on her breasts). This she does as she is under the grasp of the evil Kamsa. So when Kamsa wants to get rid of Krishna, the first person he turns to is Boothanai. She goes in the guise of a beautiful maiden and Yashoda allows her to suckle her baby. Kishna knowing her ploy anchors his teeth on her breasts and sucks the life blood out of her. She is either shown as falling dead regaining her ugly form or sucked bone dry as per varying accounts.

So having touched Krishna and smitten by his good looks, being a mother herself, is it the anguish of trying to kill a toddler that is shown on her face or the realisation that her end is near and a bitter happiness that she is to going to be liberated by him ?

28 Comments so far

Bhuthana or Bhuthaki actually a lady assistant working for Kamsa and there was a general opinion that she is of Rakshasa race. Not like that.
The sculptor has shown exactly the way how he should expose. Great collection Vijay!! And thanks for that Periazhwar padal most suitable. Keep giving such.

what about the chest-crossed mala, like Kumara? Her great headdress is similar to one of those male=Devi dancers of Karnataka, don’t know name. But those goddesses have fangs. Just presenting other possibilities. . .

One of the media persons toruing darasuram temple, took this pic and said that these are gargoyles, influenced by european sculptures.
is that the case? are these kirthimukhas or gargoyles inspired from europe. your expert opinion appreciated. thanks.

Dear Vijay,
It is great to visit your site. It gives a great insight. Thanks to Jeyamohan and Dinamalar (Chennai edition). Yours is a great combination of a scholar, sculptor and reader. I read all the posts and will keep sending you my opinions. My respects.

Dear Vijay,
A totally different view of Bhuthaki. Wonderful analysis.
I have seen a similar sculpture of mother & child in Thiruvanaikkoil. The mother with her hair spread out as if in despair, but the child smiling innocently. My problem is, that I don’t know how to attach the photo in this comment box.